Chapter 154

Asulin’s embrace was truly comforting.

There was no doubt in the obvious effort she put into holding me in a way that clearly pondered how to make me comfortable. Yet, the physical comfort her embrace provided wasn’t even the most striking part.

Even when I had snuck out and gotten caught, leaving me in a state beyond words, instead of getting angry, she silently held me, trying to suppress my anxious heart. The psychological comfort from her warm heart felt even more profound than the physical comfort.

Despite feeling light enough after having slept for quite some time, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to close my eyes and seek sleep again.

“Is Andy always like this?”

If not for the fact that Asulin’s question, devoid of any hint of reproach and purely driven by genuine curiosity, I might have just closed my eyes and fallen asleep right there.

I needed to answer her now.

Even though the words were sparse, the intent behind the question was clear, and I understood the content instantly.

“When the House of the declining Baron was around, there were many responsibilities, so I often took on a lot of tasks alone. Maybe this habit stems from those times.”

So, my answer came promptly.

“Hmm—” I heard a faint sigh escape Asulin’s lips as she listened to my response.

Seeing her obvious contemplation and hesitation in her sigh, it seemed she was considering what kind of reaction would be appropriate to my straightforward answer.

Contemplation… Reflecting on it, Asulin didn’t seem to have much room for contemplation within the scope I knew. She was always making precise and swift judgments, minimizing damage received while maximizing damage dealt, which was a virtue in the battlefield.

This wasn’t just the case when she was in command; every moment, a single delay in judgment could sway the outcome of battles and cost countless lives. Such was the burden she bore.

In the midst of life-and-death duels, where daily survival depended on quick decisions, she must have experienced such moments frequently.

The urgency of making swift judgments wasn’t limited to commanding roles. Even in situations where she could comfortably direct from the rear, she would rush into the fray without hesitation.

The constant danger of losing one’s head made every moment critical.

While the current situation differed greatly from the one described, her hesitant expression as she prepared a thoughtful response rather than an immediate one felt unfamiliar to me.

Yet, on the other hand, the thought that she only showed this side to me made my heart flutter.

It was evident how deeply her reactions were focused on my responses, without needing to be told.

In that sense, I felt incredibly blessed.

“…I’m here…”

As Asulin spoke softly, her voice filled with concern.

“I hope you won’t carry everything alone anymore. No one can live their entire life bearing everything alone…”

Her words carried both a sense of responsibility and a plea, urging me not to let the weight of responsibility overwhelm her.

Though there was no force behind her words, I responded immediately.

“…I understand.”

How could anyone refuse such a heartfelt request?

Thus, the initial plan to trace the remnants of the Mountain Elder and Dominus alone was changed to include Asulin. Though there were more considerations when doing it together, it was still a better choice.

“Did you see anything inside?”

“All I could confirm was that they cleared away any strange markings or symbols they had left before they were captured. They meticulously cleaned up, despite the risk.”

“They were careful, even in dangerous circumstances. It seems they didn’t want to leave any traces.”

Doing this task with my wife made what would otherwise be tedious work turn into something enjoyable.

…Though I enjoyed it, it’s clear from our previous conversation that we couldn’t find any traces of Dominus and the Mountain Elder.

Even amidst the urgency, knowing they were aware of the consequences if discovered made it clear they had gone to great lengths to cover their tracks.

Still, with the Royal Knights monitoring the departure due to the involvement of the Assassin League, escape wouldn’t be easy.

And staying in the Central Continent wasn’t a viable option either, given the Empire’s powerful administrative network.

Even if the former emperor hadn’t long passed and the period was chaotic, showing that face in Blood Haven would have been risky.

But now, with the emperor holding Ascalon, meeting him would be inevitable if I tried to roam around Sylvantrium with that face.

And for someone like Dominus, who was already viewed unfavorably by Empress Claudia, this made his position even more precarious.

“…Should we go? There’s little point in searching here since we couldn’t find anything.”

Just hours ago, finding traces of Dominus and the Mountain Elder and planning to conclude this matter felt like a lie.

“Should I carry you back?”

Hearing my words, Asulin’s unexpected response momentarily weakened my legs.

…If my legs gave out, she would carry me all the way back to Frostmoor Fortress.

At my age, such embarrassment was unbearable.

…

Without time to recover from the joy of seeing Andymion awake,

Asulin briskly moved toward the campsite of the barbarian tribe she had been briefly detained by, after telling Andymion to rest.

If Andymion hadn’t regained consciousness yet, it might have been okay to take things slowly.

But seeing his weakened state upon waking, Asulin decided to wrap up her current task today, finish any necessary administrative duties at the recently defended fortress, and then stay by Andymion’s side until they returned to their territory.

The gratitude and affection she felt towards her husband, who had done so much for her, made this effort seem small.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—though she couldn’t figure out how he managed it, discovering his presence before she could implement her plans made her plans fall through.

Asulin’s spiritual sense was remarkable, and she could easily detect Andymion’s presence.

Even at distances where ordinary spiritual senses couldn’t detect him, she could sense him faintly. His presence was a clear mark to her.

…She had known his presence for quite some time, which contributed to her familiarity.

But if asked, she wouldn’t be able to explain the source of this familiarity.

Usually, knowing he was nearby would bring her joy, but in this case, she hadn’t anticipated his arrival and had been preparing to ease his burdens.

Though she initially felt disappointed, over time, that feeling faded as they worked together.

Her disappointment turned into frequent inquiries about Andymion’s well-being, driving her to move quickly and thoroughly check the scene.

Andymion’s concern for Asulin made it clear how hard she had worked, eliminating the need for further proof.

Despite her diligent efforts, Asulin’s heart remained full of longing.

Seeing Andymion’s generous acts, she felt her own efforts were merely imitations.

When she couldn’t find any traces and returned empty-handed, her lingering disappointment resurfaced.

This led to her attempt to carry Andymion back to the fortress.

Though her efforts were thwarted by Andymion’s refusal, her frustration deepened.

“Let’s go back. It’s cold here. We should return before it gets colder.”

With Andymion’s warm presence by her side, her lingering disappointment vanished.

“…Ugh!”

Her usual voice, which would elicit a sigh from those who knew her, expressed her relief.

Not only did she express her happiness verbally, but she also moved closer to Andymion, narrowing the distance between them.

If Asulin had tails and animal ears like a half-human creature from the Eastern Continent, she would have swept the floor with her tail and perked up her ears repeatedly.

Despite the harsh winter in the north, the warmth of their closeness would protect them from the cold.

Their bond was strong enough to withstand even the harshest winters.